Figures compiled by the NHS Information Centre have revealed how much money is spent on feeding each patient per day by over 350 NHS Trusts nationwide.
The figures, which were sent on to parliament, showed that on average West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust spends £11.36 per patient, per day. The highest spending trust was listed at Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, which spends £22.31 per patient. Western Sussex Hospitals Trust spends the lowest amount with £2.57 being spent on meals per patient, per day.
It was also revealed that East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust spend £8.70, and £7.30 is spent by Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
Natalie Forrest, director of nursing and patients’ champion at West Hertfordshire Hospital Trust said, “The meals we provide for our patients are not only important for their nutritional value, but because it makes such a difference to the quality of the patient experience. The trust was one of the first to offer patients a new system that allows meals to be cooked individually and served immediately. There are a variety of menus … including a children’s choice. A 24 hour a day snack box service for patients who have missed a meal, or are eating outside normal eating hours, is also available.”
This news of the wide gap between what hospitals spend on patient food has sparked concerns about the quality of NHS meals suffering due to pressures to cut costs.
Source: The Review